GailG

I have not taught quilting classes but I have taught sewing classes. I agree with all of the above! One thing that comes to mind is the student who wants to be totally different when the goals of the class was already set. An example: the class I was teaching was at a fabric store to adult beginning sturdnts. One woman arrived late, went to the front of the store to PURCHASE A MACHINE. Came in late with a "bottom of the line" machine that she didn't know the first thing about. I asked her to stay after class so I could catch her up on what "she had missed (identifying parts of the machine, inserting a needle, loading the bobbin, practicing sewing straight seams, etc)." There was a choice of two patterns for them to choose which covered the same basic skills. She did choose one of those patterns bu,t instead of purchasing fabric that was within the guidelines, she purchased home dec fabric that was wider and had a one-way design. Problems arose when it came time to laying out the pattern on the fabric. So, again, special attention and more "advanced techniques" instruction was needed. Stayed after class for more one-on-one. And so it went for the whole course. The further we got into the course, the more she made excuses why she wasn't succeeding and was so far behind. She did a lot of chatter while others sewed. Also got up to go into the store to purchase supplies. Didn't come to the last class and called to see if I would consider allowing her to come to my home for another lesson. I did!! Big mistake. She ended up displeased. She did pay me for my time. But she never did finish the project. I saw her a few years later and she told me that she had never opened her machine again and had not finished the project.